It’s Hammer Time as Dave greenlights Storage Hunters UK

Friday 30 May 2014

UKTV's award-winning entertainment channel Dave has commissioned independent production company North One Television to make a British version of the smash-hit US show Storage Hunters, a format created and produced by T Group Productions in the US.

The compelling and entertaining mix of fierce competition coupled with the potential for participants to make big money by bidding on disused storage units, has gripped audiences.

Dave has ordered 10x30' episodes of the licence, which will air on Dave in late 2014.

Catherine Catton, UKTV's Senior Commissioning Editor said,

The US version of Storage Hunters is currently UKTV's highest rating programme on Dave, consistently attracting nearly one million viewers and regularly securing the top slot on Dave on Demand. Put simply, our viewers love it and we are delighted to be able to bring such a successful brand to the channel and put Dave's own unique stamp on it. This commission is another example of UKTV investing in Dave's expanding slate of home-grown content, which has helped position the channel as the most watched non PSB channel in the UK.

UKTV has licensed the US format from T Group Productions in a deal negotiated by UKTV's Head of Acquisitions & Co-Productions, Alexandra Finlay. The show features participants who blind bid on disused storage lockers around America, hoping to make their fortune from what's hidden inside. While the new UK series will remain faithful to the original concept, a distinct air of Britishness will be added to proceedings.

The series will be filmed in a wide variety of different locations, some of which will be unique to the UK. A Dave-esque voiceover will be added to the narrative. North One is currently looking for British contributors who have the perfect blend of humour, competitive edge and strategic know-how to beat their fellow bidders and make the most money.

General Manager for Dave, Steve North added,

Storage Hunters has become an established and much-loved format with Dave viewers, blending jeopardy and tension with laugh-out-loud moments of pure entertainment. I can't wait to bring the British version of the show to the channel and inject it with even more of Dave's winning personality.

Jenny Daly, President of T Group Productions said,

Nothing is more satisfying than seeing your series adapted for another territory. We've had a wonderful relationship with Dave with our finished version and know the new and original episodes will have the same intensity, humour and downright crazy moments that has made the show a hit worldwide

North One Executive Producer John Quinn said,

It's a hugely addictive series, that's why we have no intention of interfering too much with its winning formula - our aim is simply to make it feel thoroughly at home as a UK-based format.

Storage Hunters UK was commissioned by UKTV's Director of Commissioning, Richard Watsham and ordered by Steve North, General Manager for Dave. The series will be executive produced by Catherine Catton for UKTV, Jenny Daly for T Group Productions and John Quinn for North One Television. Series Producer is Sean Doherty.

Storage Hunters UK will air on Dave in Q4 2014 and will join a raft of new and returning commissions on the channel this year, including Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Dave HD

Sky 111/232, Virgin 128, HD: 129, Freeview 12

Dave proudly presents a plethora of original commissions; Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling, Dave Gorman's Modern Life is Goodish, and Dara O Briain: School of Hard Sums, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy. Not to mention a brand spanking new series with QI favourite Alan Davies in Alan Davies As Yet Untitled.

If that wasn't enough to whet your appetite we also have a stack of national treasures like QI, Red Dwarf X, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You, not to mention the Red Bull trilogy of Cliff Diving, X-Fighters and the Soap Box races. And of course, we still have Top Gear.

Obviously we have to add, Dave is the UK's most watched non-PSB channel broadcasting to over 27 million people per month, featuring hit US shows including the sharp-witted and sharp-suited Suits, the ludicrously addictive Lizard Lick Towing and the wonder that is Storage Hunters, the gift that keeps on giving.

About UKTV

UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches over 42 million viewers per month.

UKTV's ten imaginative channel brands - Watch, Dave, Gold, Alibi, Eden, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home and Good Food - include the most watched non-PSB channel, the most watched channel in the Factual genre and the most watched channels in the Lifestyle genre (Pay and Free). The company's most recent financial results showed a record-breaking year-end revenue of £262m, and operating profit at £71m.

UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC and Channel 4 content, and embracing technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, TalkTalk, YouView, plus direct On Demand digital services. The network distributes its highly valued programmes to 200 territories around the world and supplies Sky with more hours of HD content than anyone else.

Now celebrating its 21st year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.

About T Group Productions

Based in Santa Monica and led by Jenny Daly, T Group Productions develops, sells and produces across all genres for broadcast and cable networks, both domestically and internationally. Since its launch in 2010, T Group has produced series such as House of Food (MTV), Celebrities Undercover (Oxygen), Storage Hunters (truTV), Invention USA(History), Mystery Diners (Food Network), Container Wars (truTV), Private Chefs of Beverly Hills (Food Network), Thingamabob (H2) and Church Rescue (NatGeo).